The 25-year-old said a large abscess suddenly ruptured (Image: Jam Press/@owenreacts4)
A handyman has described how an unexplained pain in his backside escalated into a medical ordeal after doctors finally uncovered the cause following months of suffering and an urgent dash to hospital. Owen Williams, 25, said he endured four months of intense discomfort that made sitting difficult, left him struggling to use the toilet and, on some days, kept him stuck indoors.
The labourer, from Atherstone in Warwickshire, said he repeatedly asked for medical help but claims the source of his symptoms was not identified. Then, one alarming episode brought everything to a head.
Doctors later determined he had a large abscess, which suddenly ruptured and led to an emergency admission to hospital, followed by surgery the next day. Owen is now recuperating, although he has been told the wound may take months to heal fully.
Owen said the experience was frightening, but he found it especially distressing because he had been seeking help since February.
He said he believes the abscess burst because it had gone undiagnosed and untreated for such a long time, with pus and swelling continuing to build until it eventually ruptured through his bum cheek.
Over several months, Owen said he visited doctors, A&E and the Surgical Assessment Unit, and even had paramedics attend, but the problem was still not found.
The 25-year-old said his condition deteriorated sharply at the beginning of June. He claims he could no longer sit properly, found using the toilet difficult and spent several days bedridden at his girlfriend’s home.
Owen says that he went to the doctors multiple times with concerns (Image: Jam Press)
After the abscess burst, his father drove him to George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton, where he was admitted and later underwent surgery. He said: “It turned out I had a large abscess in my bottom. The treatment was an operation under general anaesthesia.
“Around two-and-a-half hours after going under, I woke up and was discharged the next day.”
While the operation was successful, Owen says the recovery has been far from straightforward. He currently attends regular appointments to have the wound cleaned and dressed and says he remains unable to work.
He said: “The wound remains open to allow for drainage to continue for however many months it takes to heal. It is extremely painful. The packing process is by far the most painful.”
The ordeal has also left him facing financial uncertainty, the self-employed worker shared, as he does not receive sick pay and fears that a full-time job opportunity he had been working towards may no longer be available.
He said: “It could be months, and further surgeries may be needed, which would extend it. It’s hard with no income coming in, uncertain about the job opportunity, and still having all my bills to cover.”
Doctors have warned him that there is a possibility he could develop further complications that may require additional treatment. Despite the uncertainty, Owen says he has been overwhelmed by support from strangers after sharing his experience online.
He said: “The amount of amazing messages and support that I have received has been incredible. One person asked me to set up a GoFundMe and since then I have raised over £160 to help me pay bills while I’m out of work.
“The people out there who have loved and supported me have been absolutely amazing.”
Owen says he remains frustrated that the abscess was not identified sooner. He claims he received several different explanations for his symptoms over the course of months, including haemorrhoids, anal fissures and inflammatory bowel disease.
He added: “I believe if someone had seen me there and then, all of this could have been avoided. At every turn, I felt like I got fobbed off.”
For now, Owen is awaiting further scans and tests as doctors monitor his recovery and determine whether any additional treatment will be needed.
